Device for hitting a ball

ABSTRACT

A strung bat for use in playing cricket includes an elongate handle for a user to hold and a blade elongated in the direction of the handle. The blade includes a perimeter defining an internal space that is strung with an array of strings for hitting a ball. The perimeter frame has a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge, and the array of strings lies in a plane that may be substantially aligned with the leading edge of the frame or is closely adjacent to the leading edge of the frame. An apparatus for playing the game using the strung bat is also disclosed.

FIELD

This invention relates generally to a device for hitting a ball. It also extends to an apparatus including the device.

It relates particularly, but not exclusively to, a device that is a bat strung with strings for use in playing cricket. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this particular application. However, it is to be clearly understood that the device could also be used for playing other games.

DEFINITIONS

In this specification, the term “cricket bat” is to be given a broad interpretation. It shall be understood to mean any contrivance or device that is suitable for use in playing all types of cricket including informal cricket or backyard cricket. In particular, it shall not be limited to a bat having a blade that is made out of solid wood.

Additionally, in this specification, the term “cricket” shall be interpreted broadly. It shall be interpreted to include informal games like cricket that are played with a cricket bat shaped device on an improvised field, such as a backyard, a street, a park, or on the beach. It shall not be limited to a game that meets the technical definition of the game of cricket as understood by cricketing authorities in the cricketing nations of the world.

In the specification and claims, the term “comprising” shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term “including” and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the term “comprising” such as “comprise” and “comprises”.

BACKGROUND

Cricket is a team game played in many countries including Australia, England, West Indies, India, New Zealand and South Africa. It involves two teams that take it in turn to field and bat. When a team is batting, each one of their players gets an opportunity to bat. Batting in cricket involves facing a bowler of the opposition team who bowls a hard cricket ball and tries to dismiss them, e.g., by breaking the wickets or having them caught, or run out. In turn, the object of the batsman is to hit the ball that is bowled at them and score runs which accrue to their team.

A batsman uses a cricket bat when they are batting, an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. A traditional cricket bat comprises an elongated blade having a face and a back which is used to strike the ball, and a handle extending up from the blade with which the batsman holds the bat and strikes the ball.

Standard cricket bats are made of wood, traditionally willow, and have a considerable thickness to enable them to repeatedly strike a solid cricket ball and hit the ball with some power. Consequently, one limitation of a traditional cricket bat is that it is quite heavy. This makes it difficult for some people to use it effectively, e.g., young children with underdeveloped muscles and joints, and also some female players. In order to wield a cricket bat effectively and play competent and stylish shots, a considerable amount of forearm and wrist strength is required. Some people have difficulty in using a bat effectively for this reason. This limitation has discouraged some people from taking up the game of cricket and led to lower participation levels, which in turn, has limited the growth and development of cricket.

Aside from this issue, there are other limitations with using a traditional solid wooden cricket bat. It is quite common fora group of people, e.g., for children, to play an informal version of cricket on a beach or on a suburban street. In this informal version, the cricket game is often played with a soft ball, such as a tennis ball, and a conventional wooden cricket bat. A soft ball is usually used for safety, and also to reduce the risk of causing damage to property when cricket is played on an informal field, such as those described above.

However, when using a conventional wooden cricket bat with a soft ball, such as a tennis ball, considerable energy is dissipated when the wooden bat strikes the ball. This energy is lost without being transferred into kinetic energy of the ball. Put another way, the power with which a tennis ball can be struck with a wooden bat is significantly attenuated.

Reference to background art herein is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or concession that any aspect of such background art forms part of common general knowledge or is necessarily admissible prior art.

SUMMARY

Applicant recognises it would be beneficial if the limitations described in the background above could be at least ameliorated to some extent. It would enable a game of informal cricket to be played that more faithfully replicates real cricket played on a cricket oval with a hard cricket ball.

In one broad form, the invention provides a device for hitting a ball, comprising:

an elongate handle for a user to hold the device;

a blade extending from the handle,

the blade comprising a perimeter frame defining an internal space that is strung with an array of strings for hitting a ball.

The blade may be elongated in the direction of the handle and may extend from a handle end to a base end, and the blade may have a substantially rectangular outline sized and configured to resemble a blade of a cricket bat, e.g., when viewed front on.

The device may be a cricket bat or a cricket racket for playing a game of cricket.

The perimeter frame may have a leading edge that leads when the device is used to hit a ball and an opposing trailing edge that trails when the device is used to hit a ball.

The array of strings may extend in a plane that is substantially aligned with the leading edge of the frame or be closely adjacent to the leading edge of the frame.

The leading edge of the frame and the array of strings may form a face of the blade, and the trailing edge may form a back or rear of the blade.

This arrangement mimics the flat face configuration of a traditional cricket bat and is different from a tennis racquet in which the string plane is set back from a leading edge of the frame forming the heads of the tennis racket.

The array of strings typically comprises a first plurality of spaced parallel strings extending longitudinally along the blade, and a second plurality of spaced parallel strings extending transversely to the first plurality across the face of the blade.

The second plurality of strings may be interwoven with the first plurality of strings, to form a cross-hatched pattern similar to a string pattern of strings on a tennis racquet.

The strings may define an array of rectangular openings. In one particular embodiment, the openings may have a dimension of about 15 mm in a longitudinal direction and a dimension of about 10 mm in the transverse direction.

However, is should be understood that any particular string pattern may be used.

The head portion may be strung with strings made of natural material (e.g., a catgut) or synthetic material (e.g., nylon).

Further, the strings of the head portion may be strung to a suitable tension to provide a suitable power when a tennis ball is struck with the bat.

The perimeter frame may have two sides extending between the handle end and the base end.

The perimeter frame may further include a plurality of ribs extending from one side to the other side that is spaced rearward from the leading edge of the frame, and the plane of the array of strings whereby to stiffen the frame.

The plurality of ribs may be positioned at or adjacent to the trailing edge of the frame.

The ribs may be integrally formed with the perimeter frame.

The spacing between the adjacent ribs may be a distance that is not less than 20% less than the width of the frame and not more than 20% more than the width of the frame. Broadly, the ribs may be spaced a distance apart from each other that is comparable to the distance across the width of the blade from one side to the other. This provides a surface area between frame members that is suitable for stringing to a suitable tension across all strings.

The ribs may be spaced away from the leading edge of the frame and the plane of the strings to provide clearance for the strings to deform in use.

Each rib may curve outward away from the face of the blade intermediate its ends, so the back of the blade has some similarity with the back of a cricket bat.

The strings provide the frame with a stiffness that enables the strings to be strung with a suitable string tension without the frame deforming excessively.

The ribs are an important feature of the device and make a significant contribution to the working of the device.

The blade may include an end cap removably mounted on the base end of the blade and forming a wear surface that engages with a support surface on which the device is used.

The end cap may be formed of a polymeric material that resists wear when it scuffs against a playing surface, e.g., the ground.

Further, by engineering the end cap from different plastics materials, end caps having different weights can be provided.

The end cap may be mechanically connected to the blade, e.g., by a frictional or press fit connection or a mechanical fastener.

Optionally, the mechanical connection may comprise two fasteners passed through openings in the base end of the frame and then passing into the end cap to which they are fixed. The fasteners may have an external screw thread that is engaged with a screw threaded bore.

Instead, the mechanical connection may comprise two projections projecting out of the end cap that are received in complementary apertures formed in a bottom of the frame and engaged by means of a press fit.

This enables the end cap to be selectively detached from the frame and replaced with another end cap.

In a preferred embodiment, the handle and blade are formed integrally and are manufactured to be as light as possible.

The integral frame may be formed of a composite material, e.g., a carbon fibre, or a tough rigid plastics material.

Instead, the handle and head may be formed of a light metal, such as aluminium.

In yet another embodiment, the handle and head portion are formed separately, but are rigidly connectable to each other.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a strung bat for use in playing cricket, the bat comprising:

an elongate handle for a user to hold the device;

a blade elongated in the direction of the handle extending from the handle,

the blade comprising a perimeter frame defining an internal space that is strung with an array of strings for hitting a ball,

wherein the perimeter frame has a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge, and the array of strings lies in a plane that is substantially aligned with the leading edge of the frame or is closely adjacent to the leading edge of the frame.

The device may include any one or more of the optional features of a device in accordance with any preceding aspect of the invention, and also any combination of these features.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for playing a game including a device as defined in a preceding aspect of the invention and a ball for use with the device.

The apparatus may be used to play a game of cricket in an informal setting such as a street, a back garden or on a beach.

The device may be a cricket bat in accordance with a preceding aspect of the invention and the ball may be a tennis ball.

The apparatus may further include a set of wickets that can be stood up on a support surface.

The device may include any one or more of the optional features of a device in accordance with any preceding aspect of the invention, and also any combination of these features.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of playing a game, using an apparatus as defined in a preceding aspect of the invention.

The method may include hitting a ball, e.g., a soft ball, with the device.

The game may be cricket and the device may be a cricket bat that is used to strike the ball and score runs.

The apparatus may include any one or more of the optional features of a device in accordance with any preceding aspect of the invention, and also any combination of these features.

According to yet another aspect of this invention, there is provided a device comprising a perimeter frame defining an internal space that is strung with an array of strings for hitting a ball.

The perimeter frame may have a leading edge that leads when the device is used to hit a ball and an opposing trailing edge that trails.

The array of strings may extend in a plane that is substantially aligned with the leading edge of the frame or be closely adjacent to the leading edge of the frame.

The array of strings typically comprises a first plurality of spaced parallel strings extending longitudinally along the blade, and a second plurality of spaced parallel strings extending transversely to the first plurality across the face of the blade.

The strings may be passed through openings spaced from each other around the perimeter of the frame whereby to string the device.

The frame may include any one or more of the optional features of the frame in accordance with any preceding aspect of the invention, and also any combination of these features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A device that is a cricket bat in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe at least two embodiments of the disclosure in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. However, it is to be clearly understood that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 (prior art) illustrates a traditional or conventional cricket bat and ball;

FIG. 2 (prior art) illustrates a player playing cricket with a traditional or conventional cricket bat;

FIG. 3 is an upper front perspective view of a device that is a cricket bat according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a lower front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 (with some detail omitted for clarity of the ribs on the rear of the blade);

FIG. 7 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of a perimeter frame and array of strings of the embodiment of FIG. 3 (not drawn to scale and with some detail omitted for clarity);

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an end cap that is removably mounted on a base of the blade;

FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing illustrating the bat of FIG. 3 in use;

FIG. 11 is a schematic front perspective view of part of a device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention showing how the strings are wound onto the perimeter frame to string the device;

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of part of the device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an exploded upper perspective view of a lower portion of the device of FIG. 11 showing how an end cap can be fitted to the blade of the device; and

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing additional detail of the arrangement of strings and the end cap in the device of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate prior art arrangements that have been discussed in the background section of the specification. As such, they will not be described further in the detailed description.

FIGS. 3 to 9 illustrate a cricket bat indicated generally by reference numeral 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The cricket bat may also be described as a cricket racquet because it has an array of strings that resemble in a small way the strings of a tennis racquet.

The cricket bat 10 according to one embodiment of this invention comprises a handle 20 and a blade of the bat 10.

The handle 20 has a generally cylindrical shape and it is similar to the handle of a conventional or traditional cricket bat in shape and dimension. The handle 20 will usually be solid but it could conceivably be hollow.

The blade 30 of the bat 10 comprises an elongate rectangular frame 31 which defines a face which is similar to the face of a blade of a conventional or traditional cricket bat in shape and dimension.

The blade 30 has an upper end or handle end adjacent the handle 20 and an opposed lower end which forms a base end of the blade 30. The blade 30 also has two sides extending between the upper end and the base end. Finally, the blade 30 also has a face of the blade and a back or rear surface opposed to the face.

The face of the blade 30 is strung with an array of strings 35. The array of strings 35 comprises longitudinal strings extending longitudinally along the face, and transverse parallel spaced strings extending transversely across the face. The longitudinal and transverse strings are interwoven to form a cross-hatched pattern that resemble a string pattern on a tennis racquet. The longitudinal and transverse strings define an array of rectangular openings.

In one example embodiment, the openings may have a dimension of about 15 mm in a longitudinal direction and a dimension of about 10 mm in the transverse direction. However, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that any suitable string pattern and spacing may be used.

The frame 31 may be reinforced by a plurality of transverse cross members or ribs 32 at the rear of the blade 30, which are preferably arcuate in shape. The members 32 may be integral with the elongate rectangular frame 31. The function of the cross members 32 is to strengthen the longitudinal sides of the frame 31 to give it rigidity and limit its deformation when the strings 35 are tensioned.

The strings may be made of natural material (e.g., catgut) or synthetic material (e.g., nylon, polyamide, and other polymers). Further, the strings may be strung to a desired tension. Typically, the strings are strung to a tension that is comparable to the tension of strings on a tennis racket, e.g., 50 psi.

To enable the strings 35 to be strung onto the blade 30, through apertures 33 are formed in the frame 31 from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The strings 35 can then be threaded through the apertures on the frame 31 as shown more clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The perimeter frame 31 is formed integrally with the handle 20 as a single piece as shown in the drawings. The device can be manufactured by injection moulding as a single pieces of carbon composite.

The frame 31 and/or the handle 20 are formed of a composite material, e.g., carbon fibre composites, or a tough rigid plastics material. This provides a frame having a suitable strength and rigidity while still being of lightweight. Alternatively, the frame 31 and/or the handle 20 made be made of a light metal, such as aluminium.

The array of strings 35 defines a string plane which is aligned with or close to a front or leading edge of the frame 31, which faces the ball in use. This feature is shown in Figure FIGS. 8, 11 and 13.

This arrangement mimics the flat face configuration of a traditional cricket bat (unlike a tennis racquet in which the string plane is set back from the leading edge of the head frame). In this manner, the frame 31 does not interfere with contact between the strings and the ball thereby avoiding the edge effects which occur when the bat strikes the ball close to the frame of a tennis racket. This feature thus enables the bat 10 to be used in a similar manner to a conventional cricket bat. Additionally, a central portion of the stringed area forms a ‘sweet spot’, which encourages players to hit the ball in the middle of the blade 30.

An optional feature of the described embodiment is a removeable or exchangeable end cap 36, illustrated in FIG. 9. This end cap 36 may be replaced, e.g., if worn from repeated striking of the playing surface, e.g., the ground. The end cap portion 36 can also be changed to another end cap having a different weight to vary the ‘feel’ of the bat 10, e.g., by changing the weight of the bat and in particular the weight distribution along the bat 10 and the position of its centre of mass.

FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate a device that is a cricket bat in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 shows how the device is strung to obtain an array of longitudinal and transverse strings.

The strings pass from the face of the blade through passages to the rear of the blade. The passages are formed by small passage elements that are cast integrally with the perimeter frame when it is formed. The strings are then displaced along the frame a short distance and then passed through an adjacent passage back to the face of the blade. They then extend across the face of the blade forming a string of the array of strings.

In a similar manner, both the longitudinally extending and transverse strings are strung on the frame.

The construction of the frame including the transverse ribs is an important element in conferring sufficient strength on the frame to handle the tension of the strings when the bat is strung with 50 lbs of tension in each string.

The vertical strings are 10 mm apart vertical and the horizontal strings are 15 mm apart. Part of the reason for this is that if the horizontal strings were 10 mm apart, 2500 lbs of tensile force would be generated. The frame needs to be able to handle the string tensions involved and even carbon fibre would distort under that tensile force.

The racket has 33 horizontal strings and 7 vertical strings on the racket. Each string has a tension of 50 lbs so the actual stress on the racket pulling both sides inwards in amounts to 1550 lbs of horizontal tensile force and 350 lbs of vertical tensile force.

If you hold up a working protype of the cricket bat racket like that in FIGS. 11 to 13 and look along the edge, you will notice a slight bow inwards between the ribs on the frame.

This inward bowing is caused by the strings pulling the sides of the frame inwards. This helps to illustrate the function performed by the ribs. That is, to limit the bowing of the sides of the frame. If the ribs were not present, the sides would bow even more once the cricket bat was strung with strings, e.g., to the point where the bat would lose its effectiveness. Additionally, the strings would lose their tension towards the centre of the cricket racket.

Yet further, the construction of the frame is a critical element in handling the tension of the strings. If the ribs were not present, the racket might collapse or break in the middle when a ball is centred on the blade.

The face of the blade with its elongation is not the same as a round head of a tennis racquet where the frame itself, because of its round shape cannot pull inwards. This arrangement of the frame with the transverse ribs enables the string tension to be maintained, and the shape distributes the energy of a ball strike throughout the entire frame. The ribs on the frame create a structure that defines a string area that mimics the head of a tennis racket and thus handles the tensile forces on the strings in a similar way.

FIG. 13 shows an end cap 36 that is mounted on the base end of the blade 30.

The end cap 36 is typically formed of a hard plastics material such as an engineering plastic by an injection moulding process. The end cap is formed with passages therein that enable it to be replaceably mounted on the frame at the base end of the blade. The end cap is rigidly connected to the frame by means of two fasteners that are passed through the frame and then into receiving apertures formed in the end cap. In the illustrated embodiment, the fasteners are threaded and are engaged with a complementary threaded bore in each of the receiving apertures.

This way, the end cap can be removed at any time and replaced with another end cap. This enables end caps with different weights to be provided for use on the bat which enable a user to tailor the weight distribution of the device to suit individual requirements.

FIG. 12 shows the back of the frame which receives the strings passed through the passage from the face. The strings then extend across the back of the frame a short distance then through the next passage back to the face.

As shown in the drawings, the rear of the frame has a shallow elongate channel formed therein along its length on each side. This channel extends continuously along each side of the frame and receives the strings on the rear of the blade therein, so they do not project out proud of the frame. The strings are effectively received in the channel on the back of the frame.

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross section through a lower region of the device of FIG. 12 with the section extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the blade. FIG. 14 shows how the strings are arranged relative to each other on the leading edge and also shows how the end cap is mounted on the perimeter frame.

Further, Applicant submits that the following features are not taught or suggested by the prior art and contribute to an inventive step:

-   -   stringing the blade of the bat in a plane corresponding to the         face of the bat;     -   providing reinforcing ribs extending across the back of the         blade that divide the face of the bat into a plurality of string         zones each having a similar configuration to a head of a tennis         racket; and     -   providing an arrangement of strings where the strings are moved         across to align with a next string on the back of the bat (so         there is no surface crossover on the face of the bat.

In use as shown in FIG. 10, the bat 10 can be held and used in a similar manner to a conventional solid wood cricket bat. It can be used to play a full range of cricket shots with a correct batting technique.

The array of strings can generate significant power when the bat 10 hits the tennis ball which enhances the game. The use of the stringed cricket bat in accordance with the invention enables the feel of formal cricket played with a hard ball to be more faithfully reproduced than use of a solid wooden cricket bat with a tennis ball.

Further, the bat 10 with its strung head, is lighter than a conventional solid wood cricket bat and thus easier to use for young players. It is also more suitable for use with a soft ball such as a tennis ball rather than a hard cricket ball because it efficiently transfers kinetic energy to the ball with reduced energy losses.

Related to this, the bat 10 enables a competitive and interesting game of compact cricket to be played in an area, e.g., a street or garden, which area is not suitable for using a cricket ball. Further, this apparatus also minimises the risk of injury if a player is struck by the ball.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Although the invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiment, it is intended that this application cover modifications or variations thereof as would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. 

1.-13. (canceled)
 14. A device for hitting a ball, comprising: an elongate handle for a user to hold the device; a blade extending from the handle, the blade comprising a perimeter frame defining an internal space that is strung with an array of strings for hitting a ball.
 15. The device for hitting a ball according to claim 14, wherein the blade is elongated in the direction of the handle and has a substantially rectangular outline sized and configured to resemble a blade of a cricket bat.
 16. The device for hitting a ball according to claim 14, wherein the perimeter frame has a leading edge that leads when the device is used to hit a ball and an opposing trailing edge that trails when the device is used to hit a ball, and the array of strings extends in a plane that is substantially aligned with the leading edge of the frame or be closely adjacent to the leading edge of the frame.
 17. The device for hitting a ball according to claim 14, wherein the array of strings comprises a first plurality of spaced parallel strings extending longitudinally along the blade, and a second plurality of spaced parallel strings extending transversely to the first plurality across the face of the blade.
 18. The device for hitting a ball according to claim 16, wherein the perimeter frame further includes a plurality of ribs extending from one side to the other side that is integrally formed with the perimeter frame.
 19. The device for hitting a ball according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of ribs is positioned at or adjacent to the trailing edge of the frame and wherein each rib curves outward away from the face of the blade intermediate its ends to resemble the back of a conventional cricket bat.
 20. The device for hitting a ball according to claim 14, including an end cap removably mounted on a base end of the blade and forming a wear surface that engages with a support surface on which the device is used.
 21. The device for hitting a ball according to claim 20, wherein the end cap is mechanically connected to the blade by at least one mechanical fastener passing through the frame and into the end cap.
 22. The device for hitting a ball according to claim 14, wherein the handle and blade are formed integrally of a composite material.
 23. A strung bat for use in playing cricket, the bat comprising: an elongate handle for a user to hold the device; a blade elongated in the direction of the handle extending from the handle, the blade comprising a perimeter defining an internal space that is strung with an array of strings for hitting a ball, wherein the perimeter frame has a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge, and the array of strings lies in a plane that is substantially aligned with the leading edge of the frame or is closely adjacent to the leading edge of the frame.
 24. The strung bat for use in playing cricket according to claim 23, including an end cap removably mounted on a base end of the blade and forming a wear surface that engages with a support surface on which the device is used.
 25. The strung bat for use in playing cricket according to claim 23, including a plurality of ribs at spaced intervals along the blade, each rib extending across the blade and forming a back of the blade.
 26. An apparatus for playing a game including a device for hitting a ball, comprising: an elongate handle for a user to hold the device; a blade extending from the handle, the blade comprising a perimeter frame defining an internal space that is strung with an array of strings for hitting a ball. 